The Nine Circles Audio Thing

Gwar is an absolute metal institution and one that has stood the test of time for 37 years strong. They've done things their own way and have carved their own path from the word go and have been inspiration to so many bands since their 1984 start and to be clear, not many bands can lay claim to as many accolades as Gwar is worthy of. Fuckin' legends, is what I'm saying. If anyone needs an intro to this band...leave the hall.

On the heels of their latest EP, The Disc With No Name, our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with vocalist Blothar on this newest outing and details surrounding it as well as the decision to do some acoustic tracks. They also discuss the 30th anniversary remixed and remastered release of Scumdogs of the Universe and all the surprises surrounding this edition, whether or not they were to blame for Covid and whether or not they give a shit, a deep discussion on punk music that's kicked off by a mention of GwarBQ, some band history, Gwar as businessmen with all their new ventures, working with Brian Slagel (Metal Blade) and all he's done for metal and the band, LOADS (listen in), and so much more. This is an excellent chat so dive in and enjoy, and be sure to catch the 30th anniversary Scumdogs tour that was recently announced.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Beyond Creation have become a giant in the tech death arena since forming in 2005 (under a different moniker) and, have done this with just three full lengths which is impressive to say the least. Beyond that, the band has a progressive side as well that went full tilt on their last album Algorythm (Season of Mist). Now, they've paired with Vox and Hops Brewtal North America and Overhop for a stout beer named closely after one of their songs. 

Our main man on the mic, Buke, chats with Simon Girard about this new beer venture and how it all came about as well as the whys of picking a coffee stout to be their maiden voyage into the beer market. They also cover technical death metal in general, band and personal musical history and how Simon's Grandfather made a huge impact on him, the explosion of craft breweries in Montréal as well as stateside, some of Simon's favorite beers and favorite death metal, and how they continue to experiment with tech death without crossing the line of alienating fans. As a bonus, we get some talk about Simon's upcoming solo album. This is an excellent chat so jump in and enjoy!

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Thy Catafalque hold the great distinction of simply sounding like no other band out there.  Hot off the heels  of their stunning 2020 release Naiv comes Vadak (Season of Mist), and it's no secret to say the entire 9C crew is in the bag for more twisting songs that break genre convention yet maintain a level of heaviness that will induce even the most discerning of metalheads to thrash with abandon.

The Man with an Iron Voice Buke sat down with the mastermind behind the band Tamás Kátai to discuss the history and genesis of the band and that evolution from humble demo beginnings on a Commodore Amiga of all things to the lush melange of sounds that have permitted the most recent recordings and especially Vadak.   From the opening synth of "Szarvas" to the sublime hints of Paul Simon of all people (does no one else hear that?) on "Köszöntsd A Hajnalt" all the way to the final seconds of closer "Zúzmara" you'll be in awe at where the album goes, and how successfully it marries everything onto a firm foundation of metal.  

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Majestic Downfall trade in some epic doom that stretches and luxuriates in melancholic surges of blood and tears. Aorta (Personal Records) is their latest testament to the power of the morose, and it's a feat of stirring arrangements, mournful melodies, and a bass sound that burrows under your skin and lays its eggs deep in the flesh. It touches on the classic 90s era of the scene without mimicking it, and it's one of those albums you'll be feeling in your bones long after the last note is played.

Our Master of the Microphone Buke sat down with bassist/vocalist Jacobo Córdova and guitarist Alÿ to discuss the genesis of the band's latest record. Along the way all the usual detours are thoroughly explored, including the how's and why's of doom metal and the challenges of writing a long song and making it work (like the EXCELLENT 20-minute "Roberta" which kicks off the album), the differences between European and American audiences, and the growth found in writing and performing over the course of 15 years. This is one of those interviews that you just want to go on - a great conversation in service of an incredible record. Aorta lays its foundation in the earth of doom, but there are moments of blistering aggression balanced with delicate threads of hope.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

With Migration (Deathwish Inc.), Bossk are only on their second full length since forming in 2005, give or take little, but that hasn't stopped them from being one of the heaviest bands in post-metal this side of Amenra. There, we said it. And, it's true. Migration is chock full of mood, atmosphere, and plain old heaviness...the kind you could hammer hot steel with. It's also an overall better album than their debut, the band has really stepped it up in the songwriting department and the construct of each and every track and how it reacts with its surroundings. Bottom line; this is an album you need in your life. 

Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with Tom Begley about the new album, its bleak industrial cover art, and building momentum off the static one might encounter from an old vinyl or radio transmission. They also cover Tom's musical background and what made him pick up the bass, the band's "wall of sound" stance, life for musicians in the Covid era, British food and beer, social media and whether it really helps anything, Star Wars and The Mandalorian, and several other topics. Tom opens up here and the back forth between him and Buke makes this an excellent chat so dive in and enjoy.

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

You know how this works...team members take turn picking their favorite each month and As the Morning Dawns We Close Our Eyes (Prosthetic Records) was Vincent's pick. He had two reasons for doing so; one because it's up his alley and the other...you'll have to listen in to find out. The gang covers a slew of different angles and takes on the album, compares it to previous releases and attempts to get Buke up to speed on it as well as this genre crossroad.  They also cover the slow maturation that An Autumn For Crippled Children has experienced since forming in 2009. Following that is a "what else tripped our triggers" in May section that prominently features the latest from Panopticon and several others worth taking note of. 

All this and so much more as we dive head first into our fifth AOTM for 2021!  So jump in and get an earful!

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Over the course of, now, five albums with Family the Smiling Thrush (Ripple Music) Boss Keloid have gone from stoner metal to a progressive metal giant. They defy easy categorization and genre tags by keeping fans, and new listeners, on their toes with an amalgamation of styles and varying degrees of heaviness. To put it plain, no one else is doing what this band is doing, nor has the balls to put themselves out there like they do. And it works, tremendously so. 

Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with Ste Arands about the new album and the pitfalls of jamming together in the midst of the pandemic, how the band has evolved over the years personally and in sound and scope, a more collaborative writing approach then in the past, and an enormous discussion on Ste's vast and eclectic ear for music and how his upbringing with music as a constant shaped him as a musician. They also cover upcoming tour plans, Toto, the negative effects of the social media age, a surprise family likeness, and Ste's background in drumming and how he got his start behind the kit. This is an absolute blast of a conversation so dive in and enjoy!

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Synthwave is one of those genres that has become a go to for metalheads due to its horror movie kinship, its wildly creative sound and its imagery which at times can mirror some of extreme metal's most enduring gorehounds. Perturbator and James Kent have been at the tip of this spear since Terror 404 back in 2012 and has shown more and more growth and depth on each successive album. Now, with Lustful Sacraments (Blood Music), the band dive further into the industrial side of the synth coin but do so in a way that doesn't leave anything behind. Think of it as an experiment gone incredibly right.

Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with James about the new album and how it was conceived, his extensive background-and knowledge of-black metal, his deep rooted love for horror and how it has shaped his musical output, and how much time actually goes into making this type of music and being happy with final results. They also spend some time on synth and electronic shop talk, what James listens to and how it keeps him vibrant, a video game appearance and Alcest tie in, James' favorite Darkthrone album, and many other topics. This is an excellent conversation so dive in and enjoy!

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Technically Inclined is back! And Hera -- having NOW (but not at the time of recording) newly completed grad school -- has rejoined the fold once again! And this time out, we're talking about Greek progressive death crew Cerebrum and their third album, Iridium.

But we're also talking about other stuff! Like Gojira. And how Hera is synesthetic, which mesmerized the hell out of Buke. And also, bands in Greece. And also also, the line between prog death and tech death, and what each entails. It was a fun time! There's much laughter on this here recording.

Plus, Iridium! It dropped in 2018 on Transcending Obscurity. It's also quite good and you should definitely listen to it.

For more details, jump on in and give the fifth iteration of Technically Inclined a full listen!

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CEREBRUM LINKS: Listen to Iridium | Website | Metal-Archives

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky

Anyone familiar with Epitaph era Necrophagist or Obscura or Alkaloid, to name a few, will undoubtedly be familiar with Hannes Grossmann as he was an integral driving force behind all of it. Beyond drumming, he's also a sound engineer and producer with a long list of credits under his belt. As if all that wasn't enough, we're on the eve of his fourth solo album, To Where the Light Retreats, which promises to be as technical and heavy as anything he's ever been a part of. 

Our maestro of the mic, Buke, chats with Hannes about the new album and what to expect, the different mindsets of drumming for his solo work and for other bands as well as the various mindsets that prepare him for producing music, his early days in drumming and how his fascinations and heroes paved the way, and a very long standing relationship with TAMA drums. They also cover how different drummers leave their own unique fingerprints on the music they make, plenty of shop talk, and a huge back and forth on Hi-Fi and headphones. This is a great discussion with plenty of nuggets all along Hannes' career, jump in and enjoy!

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

9C LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram | Bluesky